Sumner School District presents Native American program and a 10-year MOU with the Puyallup Tribe

Superintendent Kelly Dent and Native American program director Jason Lafontaine told the Sumner School District board about the district's Native American education program and a recently negotiated 10-year memorandum of understanding with the Puyallup Tribe covering 2025—2035.

The agreement includes language revitalization (training adults to teach Lushootseed and offering Lushootseed for world-language credit), paid internship pathways for heritage youth that can earn elective credit, and expanded tribal support for career fairs and health or counseling referrals, Dent said. "It is a 10 year MOU," Dent said, naming the 2025—2035 term.

Why it matters: presenters said the work is part of an equity promise to make Native students feel seen and supported and to bring tribal perspectives into classrooms across the district. Jason Lafontaine, who identified himself as an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and serves as the district's Native American program director, described regular in-school visits, family nights and cultural lessons that staff say increase belonging…